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Human Heredity presents the concepts underlying human genetics in clear, concise language and provides relevant examples that you can apply to yourself, your family, and your work environment. Author Michael Cummings explains the origin, nature, and amount of genetic diversity present in the human population and how that diversity has been shaped by natural selection.
The artwork and accompanying media visually support the material by teaching rather than merely illustrating the ideas under discussion. Examining the social, cultural, and ethical implications associated with the use of genetic technology, Cummings prepares you to become a well-informed consumer of genetic-based health care services or provider of health care services.
"Dr. Cummings has organized this text in a manner that carefully builds from fundamental topics and concepts to more complex modern genetics. His approach to the text is unbiased and balanced on controversial issues. This is the best non-majors genetics textbook available. As always, Michael Cummings writing is clear and precise, perfect for the audience to which it is written. The Cummings book continues to get better. It is carefully written and appropriate for non-majors."
"In this edition, Cummings does an excellent job of tackling how biotechnology is changing the way we look at the world through the creation of transgenic organisms and the way that we look at ourselves with new genetic testing procedures and human genomics…When using the sixth edition I had augmented the material on biotechnology and genomics. Now with chapters 14 and 15 in the new edition I will not have to do so. The current material is already there."
"My impression is quite good. The text is designed for students of a non-biology or non-genetics background, introducing them to the complexities of human genetics without overwhelming them with intense molecular terminology…The major strength of the manuscript is that it is very readable. Students with limited exposure to genetics should not be intimidated by the text."
"The strength of the text is that it begins at a simple level and gets more complex as the chapters proceed. All chapters allow areas for bioethical discussions relevant to the students. This keeps the course interesting for the student and allows for exciting discussions."
"I think that more than any other book of its kind, the text succeeds in bringing home the relevancy of the material and making connections with ethical issues that advances in genetics bring with them…The writing style is very accessible to most students. This is the single strongest attribute of the text…In many cases the author introduces a topic or concept and then presents an example that illustrates the topic clearly. This is VERY effective. In addition, the vignettes and "How Would You Vote?" features that have been added provide a nice conceptual framework for the student beginning the chapter. My students already found the book to be user-friendly, and I think the new edition will be an improvement."
